Cave / Karst Systems

Looking up at the ceiling of a typical cave within Grand Canyon National Park.

Grand Canyon caves are unique resources with fragile environments that provide habitat for a range of cavern-dwelling wildlife, including sensitive bat species.

Many caves also play a major role in regional hydrology, as evidenced by incredible waterfalls and substantial streams emerging from places like Vaseys Paradise, Cheyava Falls, and Roaring, Thunder, and Tapeats springs.

Under the current park policy, all caves are currently closed to visitation, except for research purposes.

Please contact Ronda Newton, Research Coordinator, for additional information [phone].

 

An example of recent vandalism within Cave of the Domes. NPS/Photo

Cave Monitoring

This engraving was scratched in a Grand Canyon cave. Unfortunately, due to the unique preservative quality of caves, this mark is irreversible.

Dealing with unauthorized access (caving in the Park is illegal) is one of the biggest problems the cave management staff of the park's Physical Science Program deals with in Grand Canyon National Park.

The caves of Grand Canyon National Park represent a unique and fragile resource. Mineral formations, fossil bones of extinct animals and prehistoric artifacts have been found in Grand Canyon caves.

 

These resources are non-renewable and have both scientific and aesthetic value. In order to evaluate man-caused impacts to Grand Canyon caves, there is an established monitoring program in the park.

 

White-Nose Syndrome

Bats all across the country are susceptible to a fatal disease called White-Nose Syndrome. It has not reached Arizona and park personnel are monitoring our bat populations to ensure the disease doesn't infect our bats. For more information